title: Exercise and epilepsy: a survey of Midwest epilepsy patients.
abstract: Obesity and lack of physical activity are an increasing problem. In addition to common barriers to physical activity, people with epilepsy also face fear of exercise-induced seizures, medication side effects, and, often, confusing advice regarding the safety of exercise. To explore barriers faced by people with epilepsy, we mailed a survey to 412 adult patients with epilepsy from an epilepsy center in Kansas. Survey items assessed patients' exercise habits, attitudes regarding exercise, and barriers to exercise. Forty-seven percent completed the survey. Most respondents reported that they did exercise, though most did so 3 or fewer days per week and at light intensity. Respondents who reported seizures as a barrier to exercise did not exercise with less frequency or intensity than those who did not report seizures as a barrier, but these respondents reported greater fear of seizures. Patient-specific education about the benefits of exercise needs to be initiated by physicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine at Wichita, Wichita, KS 67214-3199, USA. eablah@kumc.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ablah
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konda
authors.forename: Annie M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tinius
authors.forename: Surya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.forename: Kore
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004493:Education; D004651:Employment; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult